War
50 years later, Vietnam’s environment still bears the scars of war – and signals a dark future for Gaza and Ukraine
50 years later, Vietnam’s environment still bears the scars of war – and signals a dark future for Gaza and Ukraine The Vietnam War had devastating environmental consequences, including widespread deforestation, pollution, and contamination of soil and water. The US government initially denied responsibility for Agent Orange cleanup, but eventually agreed to remediate contaminated sites […]
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For Scale
For Scale The US spent $352 billion on the Vietnam War, but only $750 million has been allocated for bomb removal efforts. It’s estimated that it will take another 100 years of sustained work to decontaminate all of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia of explosives. Only 7.6% of contaminated areas in Vietnam have been deemed safe […]
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The Thucydides Trap: Vital lessons from ancient Greece for China and the US … or a load of old claptrap?
The Thucydides Trap: Vital lessons from ancient Greece for China and the US … or a load of old claptrap? The “Thucydides Trap” refers to a concept coined by Graham Allison that suggests rising powers provoke anxiety in established ones, leading to conflict. However, this framing risks oversimplifying Thucydides’ work and distorting its deeper philosophical […]
🏛️ Politics
With its executive order targeting the Smithsonian, the Trump administration opens up a new front in the history wars
With its executive order targeting the Smithsonian, the Trump administration opens up a new front in the history wars A portrait of President Donald Trump in the 'America’s Presidents' exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery. Win McNamee/Getty Images I teach history in Connecticut, but I grew up in Oklahoma and Kansas, where my […]
🏛️ Politics
The Gaza ceasefire is dead − Israeli domestic politics killed it
The Gaza ceasefire is dead − Israeli domestic politics killed it Buildings and a ceasefire left in ruins after airstrikes on March 18, 2025. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images The ceasefire in Gaza appears to be over. And while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to blame Hamas for the resumption of fighting that […]
🏛️ Politics